The United States, not the United Nations, must take the lead role in the reconstruction of post-war Iraq, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell told Washington's European allies and friends Thursday.

In more than 20 separate meetings with Powell at NATO headquarters in Brussels, the ministers lined up to tell Powell that Washington must make room for the UN to help run post-war Iraq. Powell responded that the administration of U.S. President George Bush had made no decisions about the role of the UN.

"I think the coalition has to play the leading role," Powell told a closing news conference. "But that does not mean we have to shut others out. There will definitely be a United Nations role, but what the exact nature of that role will be remains to be seen."

"I got some good ideas here today that I will be sharing with my colleagues when I get home."

It's thought that the U.S. wants to install an interim American administrator in Baghdad if and when President Saddam Hussein is overthrown. Washington then wants NATO to help guarantee security in post-war Iraq while the UN would have some political oversight.

Powell has spoken of an international "chapeau" for the rebuilding period in which the UN would provide "an endorsement, a recognition for what's being done" to rebuild Iraq.

But the Europeans want the UN to take a larger, leading role in rebuilding Iraq. French President Jacques Chirac has opposed giving Britain and the United States a dominant role in rebuilding Iraq, arguing that would legitimize the war.

"We must stabilize Iraq and the region," French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin explained Thursday. "The United Nations is the only international organization that can give legitimacy to this."

Facing stiff European objections to American primacy in any interim government in Iraq, Powell's advisers say he deliberately steered clear of falling into a debate at the conference.

"This is the beginning of a discussion, the beginning of a dialogue," Powell told reporters. He added that he was heartened that that members of NATO were willing to consider a role in postwar Iraq.

"I'm pleased there is at least a receptive attitude here today that NATO is willing to consider that [a role]," he said. "The important thing is that no one raised any objection to that possibility."

Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou, whose country holds the EU presidency, said a UN resolution would be a prerequisite for full EU involvement in post conflict reconstruction.

"The importance we place on the United Nations role is recognized by the United States," Papandreou told a news conference. "Obviously, the UN itself has not yet had this discussion, but it's very important in our transatlantic relationship to make this a point of consensus rather than a point of division."

British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw stressed that the UK, a key American ally, also wants Iraqis to assume power as soon as possible, with the UN's blessing.

"We are advocating to everybody that the country should be handed over to the Iraqi people as quickly as possible," Straw told reporters. "It's not about the UN running post-war Iraq, it's about the Iraqi people running post-war Iraq."